Friday, August 14, 2015

It's What Makers Do!

There is a new Niece and a new Nephew in the family, my usual gift is a handwoven blanket. However, I don't have any woven or a warp ready to weave one. I went last week and bought a couple of those lovey blankets that have a teddy bear head on one corner, but I wasn't really happy, at all.

It just wasn't enough! Then yesterday, I remembered a bootie pattern that the Yarnharlot had posted about years ago. It is the "Better that Booties Baby Sock" pattern, it is a free pattern on Knitting Daily. I have wanted to try this pattern for a long time, and I thought that this just might be the moment to try it.

I didn't have any baby yarn, and I almost went out to the local yarn store, when I remembered that the white wool I have in my handspun yarn stash from the Museum of Appalachia would be perfect! It is the right weight, and it is a creamy white. Also, the best part is that this yarn is naturally almost felt resistant! That means that these tiny socks will be able to go into the washer, though I will probably recommend that they don't go into the dryer.

After chores and errands this morning, I settled in for a day of laundry and knitting. The Yarn Harlot can probably whip these babies out in a couple of hours, but she knits like the wind! I have a time element as well, the baby shower for the local baby is this Sunday! (I will be mailing the other baby gift next week, so there is a little more time for that one!)

I was really motivated to get at least one sock done today! It is amazing how much faster a sock goes if you are only using 2/3rds of the stitches you normally use. By lunch time I had finished the tiny cuff and was working on the cute little heel. It reminds me of a baby butt in cloth diapers somehow. Once the heel was done, I was on to the foot which was only a very few rows of knitting. I repeated the short row shaping for the toe and did a 3 needle bind off when it was time.

It took the better part of 4 hours for me to knit this first sock. I am getting ready to cast on for the second sock, and I have a baseball game coming up to keep me company. I doubt I will finish it, but I will certainly get a good head start for the morning.

On another note last week I asked if anyone knew of anything more fiddly that tatting, nobody responded, but I think I have found something all on my own, that is indeed more fiddly than tatting, but I am not quite ready to admit to it, yet! Maybe next week!

2 comments:

What a precious little sock!!! I'm sure #2 will get along nicely while you're watching the game. There is something truly unique about tatted lace....and watching someone doing it is even more enjoyable.